Petunia plant named ‘WNPESVJAZ’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘WNPESVJAZ’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form; early and freely flowering habit; single-type flowers that are vivid reddish purple in color; and excellent garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia X hybrida.

Cultivar Denomination: ‘WNPESVJAZ’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia X hybrida and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘WNPESVJAZ’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new vigorous, freely-branching anduniformly mounding Petunia plants with early and freely flowering habit,attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor on Feb. 12, 2018 in Bonsall, Calif. of a proprietary selectionof Petunia X hybrida identified as code number 15PB559-04, not patented,as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia Xhybrida identified as code number 15PB626-01, not patented, as the male,or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inBonsall, Calif. on Aug. 2, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. sinceAug. 6, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Petuniaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘WNPESVJAZ’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘WNPESVJAZ’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually        trailing plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.    -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Single-type flowers that are vivid reddish purple in color.    -   6. Excellent garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differprimarily from plants of the female parent selection in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more mounding than and not as        spreading as plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Petunia are narrower and darker        green in color than leaves of plants of the female parent        selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are darker reddish        purple in color than flowers of plants of the female parent        selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differprimarily from plants of the male parent selection in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more outwardly spreading than        and not as upright as plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Petunia are broader and darker        green in color than leaves of plants of the male parent        selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are darker reddish        purple in color than flowers of plants of the male parent        selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of Petunia X hybrida‘USTUNI6001’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,730. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of‘USTUNI6001’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more outwardly spreading than        and not as upright as plants of ‘USTUNI6001’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have slightly smaller flowers than        plants of ‘USTUNI6001’.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia have vivid reddish purple- colored        flowers whereas plants of ‘USTUNI6001’ have bright pink-colored        flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of Petunia Xhybrida ‘USTUN2401M’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,664. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘USTUN2401M’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are larger than and not as compact        as plants of ‘USTUN2401M’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have slightly larger flowers than        plants of ‘USTUN2401M’.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia have vivid reddish purple-colored        flowers whereas plants of ‘USTUN2401M’ have hot pink-colored        flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Petunia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘WNPESVJAZ’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘WNPESVJAZ’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the late summer and earlyautumn in 10.8-cm containers in a corrugated polycarbonate-coveredgreenhouse in Carlton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical ofcommercial Petunia production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 20° C. andlight levels averaged 9,290 footcandles. Plants were pinched three weeksafter planting and were ten weeks from planting rooted cuttings when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia X hybrida ‘WNPESVJAZ’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X            hybrida identified as code number 15PB559-04, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X            hybrida identified as code number 15PB626-01, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three to four days at            ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About five to seven days at            ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three weeks at            ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About four weeks at            ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and            mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; freely            branching habit with lateral branches potentially developing            at every node, dense and bushy plant form; pinching enhances            development of lateral branches; vigorous growth habit and            rapid growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 12.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 36 cm by 40 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 19 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Internode length: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Strength: Moderately            strong; flexible, not brittle. Aspect: Initially upright            then outwardly spreading to trailing. Texture and luster:            Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, developing and            developed: Close to 144A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after            flowers develop; leaves simple.        -   Length.—About 4.8 cm to 5.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.5 cm to 2.7 cm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate with obtuse tendencies.        -   Margin.—Entire, slightly undulate.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Moderately pubescent,            pubescence, minute; slightly glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Mostly glabrous with            minute pubescence along veins and margins; slightly glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully            developed leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A; venation,            close to 144A. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close            to 146B; venation, close to 146C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.25 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2            mm to 2.5 mm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent;            slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Color,            lower surface: Close to 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single terminal and            axillary salverform flowers; flowers face mostly upward to            outwardly; freely flowering habit with flowers potentially            forming at every node.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long            flowering period, plants flower from early spring until            frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this            period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about            40 days after planting.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About five to seven days;            petals not persistent and sepals, persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Pubescent;            slightly glossy. Color: Sepals, close to 146A; petals, close            to 83A.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.8 cm to 4 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.5 cm to 2.7 cm.        -   Throat diameter.—About 1 cm.        -   Tube length.—About 1.6 cm.        -   Tube diameter, distally.—About 1 cm.        -   Tube diameter, proximally.—About 2 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals fused in a            single salverform whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat):            About 1.5 cm to 1.75 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.75 cm.            Petal lobe shape: Spatulate. Petal lobe apex: Broadly            cuspidate. Petal lobe margin: Entire; slightly undulate.            Petal lobe texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety; matte. Petal lobe texture and luster,            lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture and            luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Tube texture and            luster: Moderately pubescent; matte. Color: When opening,            upper surface: Iridescent, close to 71A; midvein, close to            N79A. When opening, lower surface: Close to N74C to N74D;            venation, close to N79A. Fully opened, upper surface:            Iridescent, close to N74A; venation, close to N74A; color            does not change with subsequent development. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to N74C to N74D; venation, close to            N79A; color does not change with subsequent development.            Flower throat (inside): Close to N79A; venation, close to            N79A. Flower tube (outside): Close to N74A to N74B;            venation, close to N79A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals fused in a            single star-shaped whorl. Length: About 1.4 cm to 1.7 cm.            Width: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Shape: Narrowly oblong. Apex:            Acute to obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent; slightly glossy.            Color: When opening and fully developed, upper surface:            Close to 146B. When opening and fully developed, lower            surface: Close to 146A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 1 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong to strong; wiry and flexible,            not brittle. Angle: About 45° from stein axis. Texture and            luster: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Close to            144A; distally, slightly tinged with close to N79A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About            five. Filament length: About 1.5 cm to 1.75 cm. Filament            color: Close to N79A. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther            shape: Bi-lobed. Anther color: Close to 97A. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 92A. Pistils: Quantity per            flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.6 cm. Style length:            About 1.5 cm. Style color: Close to 145C; distally, close to            79A. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma shape: Round.            Stigma color: Close to 200A. Ovary color: Close to 144A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development has            not been observed on plants of the new Petunia.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Petunia have    not been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to    Petunia plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to    have excellent garden performance and have been observed to tolerate    rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘WNPESVJAZ’ asillustrated and described.